Associated Press
The baseball notebook …
ATLANTA ó The Atlanta Braves shored up their outfield after being spurned by Ken Griffey Jr., reaching a preliminary agreement with Garret Anderson on a one-year deal.
Anderson is expected to undergo a physical today, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been finalized.
The Braves thought Griffey was going to join them Wednesday but he decided to return to the Seattle Mariners, where he started his career. The jilted Braves were surprised by Griffey’s decision but they bounced back quickly with the acquisition of Anderson, who hit .293 with 15 homers and 84 RBIs in 145 games with the Los Angeles Angels last year.
Anderson joins an outfield that produced only 27 homers last season, worst in the majors. He could platoon in left with the righty-hitting Matt Diaz.
A three-time All-Star, Anderson had spent his entire career with the Angels and holds several franchise records, including games played (2,013), runs scored (1,024), hits (2,368), doubles (489), total bases (3,743) and RBIs (1,292). He ranks second in home runs (272) and career batting average (.296).
Anderson helped the Angels win the World Series in 2002, hitting .300 with two homers and 13 RBIs in the postseason.
BLUE JAYS
Vernon Wells hurt his hamstring again ó before the Toronto Blue Jays even started spring training games.
The high-priced center fielder injured his left leg during drills Monday in Dunedin, Fla., and could be sidelined for most of spring training.
NATIONALS
The Washington Nationals scrapped their plans for Odalis Perez.
The disgruntled pitcher was released Monday, a day after he failed to show up at spring training by the mandatory reporting deadline.
DODGERSJason Schmidt is not only in camp with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but on the mound throwing strikes.
Trying to come back from two shoulder operations, the right-hander looked sharp in his brief stint against Dodgers teammates. He threw nine of 11 pitches for strikes and retired three of his four batters in a scoreless inning.
RED SOX
Brad Penny threw 30 pitches during his first batting practice session with Boston and said he “felt great.”
The right-hander tossed fastballs, breaking balls and splitters and stayed on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.
“Today, for me, answered a lot of questions, mentally and physically,” Penny said in Fort Myers, Fla. “I didn’t even know what to expect going out there the first time facing hitters, but everything felt great.”
Shoulder problems limited Penny to 19 games last season with the Dodgers and only nine innings after June 14.
CUBS
Carlos Zambrano is showing no signs of the shoulder problems that hampered him last season, although the Chicago Cubs are taking a conservative approach with their ace this spring.
“Physically, I feel the best I’ve ever felt in spring training,” Zambrano said after a free-and-easy throwing session against hitters. “I’m not a rookie. I know what to do and I know my job here is to get ready.”
ASTROS
An X-ray revealed that Houston Astros outfielder Darin Erstad has a small fracture near his right eye after a ball hit him there during outfield drills Sunday.
Erstad has been cleared for all baseball activities but won’t participate in Tuesday’s intrasquad game or lift weights for a few days.
YANKEES
The Yankees skipped baseball to play some 8-ball.
New York manager Joe Girardi decided to give his players a break Monday and put together a team trip for a pool-shooting tournament.
“If I was a young man that’s going on this trip, I think it’s something you don’t see often,” catcher Jorge Posada said.